Lakeside High School: Devin Haygood

Lakeside High School girls soccer head coach Nick Edmond calls Devin Haygood quiet, but her play on the field speaks volumes.

The freshman started her high school career for Lakeside with five goals in two games. She opened the season with three goals against Grovetown and followed it up with two more goals versus Aquinas.

“I get good balls to me and I take the opportunity,” Haygood said.

But Edmond said there is more to her success.

”It’s a combination of being in the right place at the right time and making the most of her chances,” he said. “She’s doing what she’s been taught since she’s been 5 or 6. She’s striking the ball properly and taking advantage of situations.”

Haygood said she started playing soccer at 4 or 5 years old, and the reason she likes it might explain her early success.

“I tried a lot of stuff, but I just liked it better,” Haygood said. “It’s the competition and ... it’s not that hard to do.”

Coming on to a squad that went 13-6-1 and advanced to the second round of the AAAA state playoffs last year, Haygood said she easily meshed with returning upperclassmen.

“She fits in well, especially with our older players,” Edmond said.

Haygood said it’s not just her the older players have welcomed onto the team.

“They’re nice to all the underclassmen,” she said.

Playing club soccer also gave her the opportunity to meet players from other teams before the season started.

“With club (soccer) you meet a lot of different people from different schools on your team,” Haygood said, adding that she’s played against former club teammates in each of the first two games. “It makes it fun because you’re playing against people you know.”

Between club and varsity soccer, she plays a lot of games, but she said her family provides backup.

“My mom is very supportive and so is my dad,” she said. “My mom goes to all my games. You look up, the loudest person, that’s my mother.”

For the rest of the season, she wants the team to win the state championship and is keeping her personal goals simple.